Angle-adjustable support with pivot mechanism

ABSTRACT

An angle-adjustable support includes a base, a carrier and a pivot mechanism. The base includes a sidewall and a bottom. The sidewall has a first pivot and a second pivot. The pivot mechanism pivotally connects the carrier with the base. The pivot mechanism has three working states. The carrier is locked when the pivot mechanism works in a first working state. The carrier is capable of pivoting relative to the base in a clockwise or anticlockwise when the pivot mechanism works in a second working state. The carrier is free to rotate when the pivot mechanism works in a third working state.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to support, and more particularly to asupport with a pivot mechanism such that an angle of the support isadjustable.

BACKGROUND

In daily life, pivot mechanisms are widely applied to such articles asdoors, windows, rearview mirrors of cars, notebook computers, electronicdictionaries, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. Suchan article generally includes a rotating body and a body. The rotatingbody is rotatable relative to the body through a pivot mechanism. Thepivot mechanism generally includes a shaft, a gasket, a stator and arotor. The rotating body of the article is connected to the rotor suchthat the rotating body can rotate together with the rotor. As the rotorrotates relative to the stator, the friction force produced between thestator and the rotor is used to counteract the torque force produced bythe weight of the rotating body, so that the rotating body can bepositioned and held in place by the external force. However, thefriction force between the stator and the rotor may too large or toosmall. If the friction force between the stator and the rotor is toolarge, the necessary of external force taken to rotate the rotating bodyalso become larger. In the meantime, the pivot mechanism is easily wornout and has a shot service life. In the contrary, if the friction forcebetween the stator and the rotor is too small, the pivot mechanism isloose and the rotating body cannot be efficiently positioned and held inplace.

In addition, if the relationship between the components of the pivotmechanism is improper, a counter force is produced between the statorand the rotor during rotating. The counter force drives the rotatingbody to rotate back when an external force used to rotate the rotatingbody is removed. Thus, the rotating body cannot be exactly positioned.

Thus, there is a room for improving the pivot mechanism.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an angle-adjustable support whichincludes a base, a carrier and a pivot mechanism. The base includes asidewall and a bottom. The sidewall has a first pivot and a secondpivot. The pivot mechanism is arranged between the carrier and the base.The pivot mechanism has three kind of working states. In a first workingstate, the carrier is locked. In a second working state, the carrier iscapable of pivoting relative to the base in a clockwise oranticlockwise. In a third working state, the carrier is free to rotate.

The pivot mechanism further includes a rotator, a stopper and anadjuster. The rotator is pivotally connected to the first pivot. Thecarrier is attached to and pivotable together with the rotator. Aplurality of teeth are formed at a circumferential edge of the rotator.The stopper is pivotally connected to the second pivot. The stopperincludes an engaging portion and a bump. The engaging portion issuitable to be engaged with the teeth. The adjuster is pivotallyconnected to the first pivot. The adjuster defines a recession suitableto receive the bump of the stopper. When the adjuster is positioned inan original position, the engaging portion is engaged with one of theteeth and the bump is locked in the recession; when the adjuster isrotated for a first angle from the original position, the bump is movedout from the recession and the engaging portion is contacted with one ofthe teeth; when the adjuster is rotated for a second angle from theoriginal position, the bump is moved out from the recession and theengaging portion is disengaged from the teeth.

In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technicalcontents of the present invention, references are hereunder made to thedetailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with thepresent invention. However, the appended drawings are merely shown forexemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of theinstant disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more readily apparent to thoseordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an angle-adjustable support of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic view showing an adjuster disassembledfrom the other elements of the support of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing the support of the present inventionpositioned in a first working state;

FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing the support of the present inventionpositioned in a second working state;

FIG. 3C is a schematic view showing the support of the present inventionpositioned in a third working state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An angle-adjustable support in accordance with the instant disclosureutilizes a base, a carrier and a pivot mechanism to achieve unlimitedangular adjustment and capable of fixing the device disposed on thecarrier at a desired angular position. The user can easily adjust theviewing angle of the device and perform other similar operations.

Please refer to FIG. 1 shows an angle-adjustable support 100 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The support 100includes a pivot mechanism 200, a base 300 and a carrier 400. The base300 includes a sidewall 310 and a bottom 320. Referring also to FIG. 2,the sidewall 310 has a first pivot 312 and a second pivot 314 protrudedtherefrom. The pivot mechanism 200 is configured for pivotallyconnecting the base 300 and the carrier 400 such that the carrier 400 ispivotable relative to the base 300. The pivot mechanism 200 has threekind of working states. When the pivot mechanism 200 works in a firstworking state, the carrier 400 is locked and cannot pivot relative tothe base 300. When the pivot mechanism 200 works in a second workingstate, the carrier 400 can pivot relative to the base 300 only inclockwise or anticlockwise. When the pivot mechanism 200 works in athird working state, the carrier 400 is free to rotate. The carrier 400may, without limitation, be configured for carrying the device. Forexample, the carrier 400 of the support 100 can be used to support thedevice thereon such as a display of a notebook or computer so that thedisplay can pivot relative to the base 300 through the pivot mechanism200. The support 100 also may be applied to reading stands forsupporting books, or be applied to holders for carrying other things.

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pivot mechanism 200 includes arotator 210, an adjuster 220 and a stopper 230. The rotator 210 ispivotally connected to the first pivot 312 of the sidewall 310 of thebase 300. A plurality of teeth 212 are formed at portion ofcircumferential edge of the rotator 210. The teeth 212 may be ratchets.Due to the rotator 210 is fixedly connected with the carrier 400, whenthe rotator 210 rotates around the first pivot 312, the carrier 400 isrotated together with the rotator 210 relative to the base 300. In thisembodiment, the rotator 210 may, without limitation, be integrallyformed with the carrier 400.

The adjuster 220 is pivotally connected to the first pivot 312 and isrotated relative to the sidewall 310 or the rotator 210. The adjuster220 includes a body 222, a protrusion 224 and a hook 226. The hook 226extends from the body 222. A recession 228 is formed between the hook226 and the body 222. A shifter 221 attached to an external surface ofthe body 222 for conveniently operating the adjuster 220. When an forceis applied to the shifter 221 to rotate the adjuster 220, the adjuster220 is rotated relative to the first pivot 312. The shifter 221, theprotrusion 224 and the hook 226 are formed at a circumferential edge ofthe body 222, wherein the protrusion 224 is located between the shifter221 and the hook 226.

The pivot mechanism 200 may further include an elastic element 240. Theelastic element 240 connects the adjuster 220 and the bottom 320 of thebase 300, for giving a restoring force to the adjuster 220. When thereis no external force applied to the adjuster 220, the adjuster 220 isrotated to its original position by the restoring force of the elasticelement 240. The elastic element 240 may, without limitation, be acompression spring.

The stopper 230 is pivotally connected to the second pivot 314. Thestopper 230 includes an engaging portion 234 and a bump 236 connectedwith and located beside the engaging portion 234. The bump 236 can besuitably locked in the recession 228 of the adjuster 220. The engagingportion 234 can selectively match with one of the teeth 212 of therotator 210 to cause the carrier 400 to be positioned with a particularangle relative to the base 300.

In order to describe the present support 100 more clearly, an operatingprinciple of the present support 100 is described accompanying drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 3A, the support 100 positioned in a first workingstate, wherein the rotator 210 is completely locked. The bump 236 of thestopper 230 is engaged in the recession 228. At the same time, theengaging portion 234 is engaged with one of the teeth 212. Thus, therotator 210 is locked and cannot rotate in any direction, so that theinclination angle of the carrier 400 can be fixedly retained.

Please refer to FIG. 3B, the support 100 positioned in a second workingstate, wherein the rotator 210 can rotate in clockwise or anticlockwise.In this working state, the shifter 221 is pressed down and the adjuster220 is rotated for an angle, for example first angle θ1, the bump 236 ismoved out from the recession 228 and the engaging portion 234 iscontacted with one of the teeth 212. Since the teeth 212 and theengaging portion 234 are shaped like ratchets, the rotator 210 canrotate anticlockwise but cannot rotate clockwise relative to the firstpivot 312. The carrier 400 is rotated together with the rotator 210 inanticlockwise so as to adjust the inclination angle of the carrier 400.

Specifically, in the second working state shown in FIG. 3B, when therotator 210 is rotated anticlockwise, the teeth 212 forcibly slide overthe engaging portion 234 one by one and meanwhile exert a downwardacting force on the engaging portion 234. The acting force drives thestopper 230 to rotate clockwise around the second pivot 314 for a smallangle. In this embodiment, a torsion spring 250 is connected to thesecond pivot 314, with one end of the torsion spring 250 resisting thestopper 230 and another end thereof resisting the bottom 320 of the base300. The torsion spring 250 is configured for pushing the stopper 230 torotate back to its original position. When a tooth 212 presses theengaging portion 234 to cause the stopper 230 to rotate clockwise, thetorsion spring 250 is deformed. After the tooth 212 has moved over theengaging portion 234 and before the next tooth 212 contacts the engagingportion 234, the deformed torsion spring 250 provides a restoring forceto push the stopper 230 to rotate anticlockwise back to its originalposition.

Please refer to FIG. 3C, the support 100 positioned in a third workingstate, wherein the rotator 210 can rotate bidirectionally, i.e.,clockwise and anticlockwise. The shifter 221 is pressed down and theadjuster 220 is rotated for an angle, for example second angle θ2, fromits original position, the protrusion 224 abuts against the bump 236.The protrusion 224 pushes the bump 236 downwardly to cause the stopper230 to rotate clockwise relative to the second pivot 314, so as tocompletely disengage the engaging portion 234 from the teeth 212. Atthis time, the rotator 210 is free to rotate and allow the carrier 400at different angles.

When the adjuster 220 pushes the stopper 230 to rotate clockwiserelative to the second pivot 314, the stopper 230 brings the torsionspring 250 to be deformed. Then, when the protrusion 224 of the adjuster220 has been moved away from the bump 236, the deformed torsion spring250 rebounds to push the stopper 230 back to its original position.

The coverage of the angle in the second working state is defined bycircumstance that the bump is not within the recession and the engagingportion is engaged with one of the teeth, and, the coverage of the anglein the third working state is defined by circumstance that the engagingportion did not touched one of the teeth. The aforementioned angle inthe third working state is larger than that in the second working state,i.e., the second angle θ2 is larger than the first angle θ1 in theexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In summary, the support 100 of the illustrated embodiment utilizes theadjuster 220 to change the position of the stopper 230 and uses theengaging portion 234 to match with one of the teeth 212, so as to retaina desired inclination angle for the carrier 400 firmly and that is noconcern of the friction force between the stator and the rotor may toolarge or too small. When the bump 236 of the stopper 230 is lodged inthe recession 228 of the adjuster 220 and the engaging portion 234 ofthe stopper 230 is engaged with a selected tooth 212 of the rotator 210,the carrier 400 is locked and cannot rotate relative to the base 300. Inaddition, when the adjuster 220 is driven to rotate to dislodge the bump236 of the stopper 230 from the recession 228, the rotator 210 canrotate unidirectionally or bidirectionally to adjust the inclinationangle of the carrier 400. Thus, the pivot mechanism 200 is not only easyto operate, but also can effectively improve the stability of thesupport 100.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

1. An angle-adjustable support comprising: a carrier; a base including asidewall and a bottom, the sidewall having a first pivot and a secondpivot; and a pivot mechanism is arranged between the carrier and thebase, the pivot mechanism having three kind of working states, whereinthe carrier is locked when the pivot mechanism works in a first workingstate, the carrier is rotatable in a clockwise or anticlockwise when thepivot mechanism works in a second working state, the carrier is free torotate when the pivot mechanism works in a third working state.
 2. Theangle-adjustable support according to claim 1, wherein the pivotmechanism further comprises: a rotator pivotally connected to the firstpivot and positioned adjacent to the sidewall, a plurality of teethformed at a circumferential edge of the rotator; an adjuster pivotallyconnected to the first pivot and being rotatable relative to thesidewall and the rotator, wherein the adjuster including a body, aprotrusion and a hook, the hook extending from the body to form arecession between the body and the hook; and a stopper pivotallyconnected to the second pivot, wherein the stopper including an engagingportion and a bump, the bump being suitable to be locked in therecession of the adjuster, the engaging portion being suitable toselectively match with one of the teeth of the rotator.
 3. Theangle-adjustable support according to claim 2, further comprising anelastic element connecting the adjuster and the bottom of the base. 4.The angle-adjustable support according to claim 3, wherein the elasticelement is a compression spring.
 5. The angle-adjustable supportaccording to claim 2, further comprising a torsion spring connected tothe second pivot, wherein the torsion spring touched the stopper and thebottom.
 6. The angle-adjustable support according to claim 2, whereinthe teeth and the engaging portion are shaped like ratchets.
 7. Theangle-adjustable support according to claim 2, wherein the carrier isintegrally formed with the rotator.
 8. The angle-adjustable supportaccording to claim 2, wherein when the pivot mechanism in the firstworking state, the bump is engaged in the recession and the engagingportion is engaged with one of the teeth.
 9. The angle-adjustablesupport according to claim 2, wherein when the pivot mechanism in thesecond working state, the adjuster is rotated for an angle so that thebump of the stopper is moved out from the recession and the engagingportion is engaged with one of the teeth.
 10. The angle-adjustablesupport according to claim 2, wherein when the pivot mechanism in thethird working state, the adjuster is rotated for an angle so that theprotrusion abuts against the bump and pushes the stopper to rotatearound the second pivot and the engaging portion completely disengagedfrom the teeth.
 11. The angle-adjustable support according to claim 2,wherein the adjuster further comprises a shifter attached to an externalsurface of the body of the adjuster.